RFI 72066024RFI00006_Pre-Primary Activity_9-4-24_signed.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

Subject: USAID Promoting Access to Improved Learning Pre-Primary Education in the

Democratic Republic of Congo.

RFI Number: RFI No. 72066024RFI00006

Issuance Date: September 5, 2024

Closing Date/Time: September 26, 2024, Kinshasa local time

Response Email: drcoaa@usaid.gov and mkadima@usaid.gov

The United States Agency for International Development Mission in the Democratic Republic of the

Congo (USAID/DRC) is gathering information to develop a possible activity to promote Access to

Improved Learning Pre-Primary Education.

The purpose of this communication is to obtain industry comment on the attached DRAFT RFI. To that end, information obtained through this RFI will be held in confidence and will not be disclosed to the public unless specifically requested by responding sources. This RFI is open for comments from any interested party.

As the largest bilateral donor to education in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the United

States Agency for International Development (USAID) breaks the cycle of conflict by providing safe learning spaces, catch-up programs and clubs, tutoring, and accelerated learning services to over

350,000 children living in conflict affected and neglected zones.

By issuing this RFI, USAID/DRC would like to solicit responses to the questions in Attachment 1 and expressions of interest in the activity per Attachment 2 from the broad community of private sector actors, public institutions, development partners, non-governmental organizations, industry associations, civil society, think tanks, and academia concerned with pre-primary education in DRC.

Your comments will be used to develop a design document that is clear, maximizes long-term development impact, facilitates coordination with existing and planned USAID and other development partner programs, as well as aligns with the Government of DRC’s (GDRC) priorities. Not responding to this request does not preclude participation in any future solicitation.

This RFI has two sections. You may respond to either section but are encouraged to respond to both.

Responses to the RFI questions in Attachment 1 (“Questions for Industry and Partner Feedback”) should be no more than six (6) pages in a Microsoft Word document or an Adobe PDF in at least 12-mailto:drcoaa@usaid.gov mailto:mkadima@usaid.gov point font. Responses must be written in French or English with consecutively numbered pages. Clearly label each page with the name of the organization responding and “USAID/DRC PROMOTING ACCESS

TO IMPROVED LEARNING PRE-PRIMARY EDUCATION”. Any response format may be used but USAID values concise, issue-specific responses. Please ensure submitted comments make specific reference to RFI pages and question numbers. 2. EOI responses, in addition to the respondent’s organization information and past experience, should be sent using Attachment 2.. Please limit this additional information to four pages. Information provided in response to this request for information must be received by email; telephone calls and hand-carried documents will not be accepted.

This announcement is a Request for Information (RFI), not a Request for Proposals (RFP) or a Notice of

Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Issuance of this RFI does not constitute any obligation on the part of the

Government to procure supplies or services or to issue a solicitation. Further, the RFI does not represent any award commitment on the part of the Government or obligate the Government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of any response.

Please send responses to this RFI via email to drcoaa@usaid.gov and mkadima@usaid.gov with the subject title “Request for Information (RFI): “USAID/DRC PROMOTING ACCESS TO IMPROVED

LEARNING PRE-PRIMARY EDUCATION”, no later than the date/time stated above. You will only receive an electronic confirmation acknowledging receipt of your response. No feedback will be provided on comments received.

USAID is interested in receiving expressions of interest for this activity from both international and local entities. As defined by USAID’s ADS 303, a local entity:

1. is legally organized under the laws of;

2. has its principal place of business or operations in;

3. is majority owned by individuals who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of; and

4. is managed by a governing body the majority of whom are citizens or lawful permanent residents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Thank you for your interest and engagement in USAID/DRC programming.

Sincerely, Jamie Lewis

Agreement/Contracting Officer mailto:drcoaa@usaid.gov mailto:mkadima@usaid.gov

Attachments:

1. Attachment 1: RFI Questions

2. Attachment 2: EOI Response Form

ATTACHMENT 1: RFI Questions

Respondents can choose to answer all or some of the questions below. USAID appreciates brief and concise responses that will help inform activity planning. Please restrict the number of pages for responses to six (6) pages maximum.

USAID/DRC seeks recommendations from respondents to support activities to promote access to Pre-

Primary Education in DRC. USAID is accepting responses in both English and/or French.

DRC Context:

● What are the main GDRC and non-government institutions that should be involved in a pre-primary education program? What do they do and how could USAID engage with them?

● What are the main barriers to access to pre-primary education, and how can they be addressed?

● What opportunities exist to promote system strengthening and sustainability in the pre-primary sector?

● Who are the most marginalized and vulnerable populations and what opportunities exist to expand their access to services at the national, provincial, and community levels?

● In what ways do social norms and traditional societal practices and/or power structures create barriers to pre-primary education and play-based learning?

● How has armed conflict or socio-economic, geographical or gender disparities impacted early childhood development in DRC?

● What child protection concerns should be considered in a pre-primary activity?

● Please add any other information you consider useful and not covered by the above questions in the context of pre-primary education in the DRC.

Effective Approaches:

● What strategies for accessing hard-to-reach rural areas have proven effective? How can USAID get pre-primary education to rural communities and hard-to-reach areas ?

● What is the best way to engage communities in curriculum development that reflects the local context?

● Which holistic, developmentally appropriate pre-primary learning assessments have been used effectively in DRC or in similar contexts?

● What specific approaches for engaging families and communities in early childhood education programming have proven effective in DRC or similar contexts?

● What approach to teacher training on inclusive play-based pedagogical practices would be most effective?

● Which languages are used in the teaching and learning process in the pre-primary, which should be the most appropriate, and why?

Coordination:

● What other donor-funded early childhood development projects are working in DRC that should be coordinated with any future USAID activity?

● What opportunities exist for coordination with the health, nutrition, child protection, MHPSS, social services, rehabilitation services, and WASH sectors?

● What other opportunities for collaboration should USAID be considering?

Other:

● Are there other factors, recommendations, or considerations regarding pre-primary education that USAID should be aware of?

ATTACHMENT 2: Expression of Interest Response Form

GENERAL INFORMATION

Name of the Organization:

Address:

Unique Entity Identifier (If available):

CONTACT PERSON:

Name:

Position:

Telephone:

E-mail address:

TYPE OF ORGANIZATION:

Please indicate your organization type:

US Organization (other than small business)

US Small Business

Higher Education Institution

Public International Organization (e.g. United Nations)

Non-US Organization

Local Entity (defined in ADS 303)

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST:

Please provide brief information that describes your organization’s capability and interest in implementing activities to promote access to Improved Learning Pre-Primary Education.

PAST EXPERIENCE:

● Past experience working in Pre-Primary Education with relevant stakeholders.

● Types of relevant activities and programs your organization has experience with include duration and scale of projects/budget and populations reached.

(Respondents are encouraged to provide hyperlinks to websites, activity documents, and/or evidence-based research and studies regarding the effectiveness of these activities.)